SecretLeeds - History, culture and architecture in Leeds

Just inside the Calverley Street entry into the old Leeds School Board building there is a statue of a boy on the left and one of a girl on the right (going in). I must have walked past very many times but it was only very recently that I spotted the statues. I wonder how well-known they are? Though I have managed to find some mention of them I have not (at least readily) been able to find any images of them. The photo was taken on March 5 2012 and shows the boy (I shall put one of the girl in my next post). I assume the statues were placed when the building was built and if so are quite old now.The Leeds School Board (now I understand called Civic Court) is a grade 2 listed building but there does not seem to be that much reported about it (other than many photos of its Blue Plaque). It was built 1879-81 but there seems to be no photos in the Leodis website showing a good view of the building before 1970. It is currently used as offices and a bar below ground. Until at least January 30 2012 the Calverley Street front was covered in scaffolding but that has recently been removed. A metal access/egress gate was locked when I took the photos and has been locked for some time now.    

This is the photo of the girl. The statue does not seem quite as sharp as that of the boy so, despite their inside location, this statue may have suffered a touch more erosion (or I did not focus it well enough!).

In case anyone doesn't know the Leeds School Board building this is a photo (taken March 5 2012) of its front on Calverley Street.

This photo (taken March 5 2012) shows the statue of the girl high up in the wall in the entry/exit area to the Leeds School Board building with part of the slightly ornate metal gate.

Leodian wrote: This photo (taken March 5 2012) shows the statue of the girl high up in the wall in the entry/exit area to the Leeds School Board building with part of the slightly ornate metal gate. Unbelievable - I used to walk past this everyday and never noticed them! - must keep my eyes open and look up occasionally.

The building is also famed for it's double helix staircase inside.

Talking of the old leeds school building, when I was a kid I had to go there for a medical before being deemed fit enough for a paper round.

My mother has been doing some research on her father's family who lived in Leeds and by chance she found your web site with the photo of the statue of the girl in the entrance to the School Board building. She is fairly certain the girl was her grandmother who was born in Leeds in 1868.Her name was Mary Isobel Ingleby and we have a photo of her wearing the dress and holding the books as in the statue. For years she has been trying to find out more info about the statue and why Mary was chosen to be the model. I wonder who the boy is too. We live in Scotland and it is not easy to find anything other than what is available on Ancestry.co etc. If anyone can tell us more about the statue we would be very grateful.    

Hi EdinburghRobThanks for that most interesting post. There is certainly quite a similarity between the photo and the statue of the girl. I'm sorry but I don't know any more, so I hope you are successful in finding some information.

EdinburghRob wrote: My mother has been doing some research on her father's family who lived in Leeds and by chance she found your web site with the photo of the statue of the girl in the entrance to the School Board building. She is fairly certain the girl was her grandmother who was born in Leeds in 1868.Her name was Mary Isobel Ingleby and we have a photo of her wearing the dress and holding the books as in the statue. For years she has been trying to find out more info about the statue and why Mary was chosen to be the model. I wonder who the boy is too. We live in Scotland and it is not easy to find anything other than what is available on Ancestry.co etc. If anyone can tell us more about the statue we would be very grateful.     How interesting. . .not seen these statues even though I pass the building many times.The architect was George Corson and he was from Scotland too.